Blackmailed Into the Prince's Bed

As both a Manhattan billionaire and a prince of Castaldini, Eduardo DAgostino is used to getting his wayin business and in matters of love! So when his newest employee, IT expert Jade Mitchell, is unimpressed by his wealth and stature, hes intrigued enough to woo her, and to wait.

After a whirlwind romance, Eduardo is certain that Jade is his future princess. But then he learns the devastating truth behind her hesitation to take their relationship to the next level. Eduardo is soon turning the tables on his would-be lover, and insisting on taking his revengein the bedroom!

Chapter Thirteen

She gave a jerky shake of her head. "I told you why I need the money. Anything else would sound like a sob story. And I wouldnt want to upset your stomach."

His lips twitched at her caustic reminder. "I lied. I can stomach anything. Youve come so far. Tell me the rest."

She opened her mouth. But nothing came out. She closed her lips, resignation settling on her face. Just as he thought shed give him what he wanted, she staggered around.

She was walking away.

No.

He wouldnt let her go. Dio santo he couldnt.

He found himself across the room, his fingers molded to her firmness.

It was as if hed electrocuted her. And vice versa. She stiffened, her flesh zapping a charge up his arms. With a long, pained groan, he dragged her back into him. She melted against him, all the missing parts of him fitting back.

He crossed his arms around her, melded her to his aching body, his hungry lips worshipping a path up her neck until they closed over her ear lobe. She cried out with the first hot, hard pull, arched back into his arousal, her head rolling over his shoulder, giving him license to take, to own.

He scooped her up, clamped his lips over her petalsoft ones, groaned inside her delicious depths, drawing more of her whimpers of surrender as he carried her to the nearest couch. He took her down on top of him, everything inside him roaring for him to let go, take her now, brand her, bind her. Whatever else had been fake, her desire was real. He could feel it, scent it. And if her story checked out, then she had good reason for what shed done. He could forgive, forget. He could love her again

"No." She started pushing out of his hold, gasping. "This isnt how it is between us anymore. You want your story, youll get it. You pay my price, youll get me. But thats it."

He let her go, bracing against the blow of cold, ugly reality, struggling to subdue his body, watched her wrestling with hers.

"My uncle was in intensive care " she began haltingly  when those who put him there approached me. They knew Id been headhunted by your corporation but had turned down the offer in order to remain where I was, to try to get my uncles company back. They told me theyd let him off the hook if I accepted the position, got them the information they need to underbid you in the AkonTech deal. They called it competitive intelligence."

"A.k.a. corporate espionage," he bit off.

She nodded. "I refused. But my uncles wife begged me. She said prosecution would kill my uncle, that such practices were the norm in big business, that its just a contract among a thousand to you. That Id save my uncle. My whole family."

"So you agreed."

Negation filled her eyes. It didnt get past her lips.

But how could she even attempt to deny it when shed been gathering not only enough information to sabotage the AkonTech deal, but his very business?

She exhaled. "Now you know. So will you give me the money?"

"If you thought money could solve your problems, why didnt you just ask me for it?"

Her lush lips twisted. "Yeah, sure. I can just picture it. Youre almost making love to me and I stop you and gasp, I just remembered, I need to make a long-distance phone call. To the next galaxy. Can I have a few million dollars?"

And he did the last thing he thought hed ever do again. He laughed.

She looked as if hed stabbed her.

His laughter died. "If your story is true, your price wont solve anything. Those people were never after your uncle, they were after you. They dont want their money back, they want to make a hundred times more. They wont take their choke holds off your familys collective throat until they do."

She looked as if hed twisted the knife in her chest.

"Oh, God." One drop of moisture trembled a line of silver down her peach-flushed cheek. "So only giving them the info they asked for, losing you that deal, wont be enough. And since theres no way Id warrant more money to you, I have no way out of this."